Clergy Salary in Washington: $84,500 Average

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Average base salary, Washington

$84,500 / year

≈ $7,050 per month · $40.63 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for Washington · median $83,500

25th percentile
$71,500Average
$84,50075th percentile
$94,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Clergy salary by state

Alabama$55,500

Alaska$56,500

Arizona$70,500

Arkansas$54,000

California$90,000

Colorado$68,500

Connecticut$74,500

Delaware$68,000

District of Columbia$74,500

Florida$61,000

Georgia$63,000

Hawaii$65,000

Idaho$59,500

Illinois$64,500

Indiana$60,500

Iowa$62,500

Kansas$54,000

Kentucky$60,500

Louisiana$56,500

Maine$66,500

Maryland$66,000

Massachusetts$76,000

Michigan$57,500

Minnesota$64,000

Mississippi$59,000

Missouri$63,000

Montana$65,500

Nebraska$59,500

Nevada$74,000

New Hampshire$70,000

New Jersey$68,000

New Mexico$68,500

New York$76,500

North Carolina$63,500

North Dakota$72,500

Ohio$60,500

Oklahoma$63,000

Oregon$70,500

Pennsylvania$59,500

Rhode Island$61,000

South Carolina$60,500

South Dakota$62,500

Tennessee$60,500

Texas$64,500

Vermont$71,000

Virginia$59,500

Washington$84,500

West Virginia$53,000

Wisconsin$66,000

Wyoming$63,500

About this role

Clergy is a professional role within the function in the Community and Social Service job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Clergys do

Typical education: Master's Degree

Pray and promote spirituality.
Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
Organize and lead regular religious services.
Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.

Top skills: Speaking Active Listening Social Perceptiveness Service Orientation Instructing Writing

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Clergy pay by experience level

Entry level$39,000

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$50,000

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$63,000

Mid-career median pay

Senior$79,500

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$102,500

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+1%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

23,000

projected openings per year

Growing slower than average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Clergy salary by industry

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

25,070 workers

$68,500

Religious Organizations

24,750 workers

$69,000

Ambulatory Health Care Services

11,460 workers

$72,000

Home Health Care Services

10,920 workers

$72,000

Hospitals

9,630 workers

$68,500

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals

9,220 workers

$68,500

Hospitals, Privately Owned

8,730 workers

$68,500

Educational Services

3,200 workers

$63,000

Educational Services, Privately Owned

3,100 workers

$63,000

Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS

2,900 workers

$80,500

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Clergy pays 4% above the average across 17 roles in the Community and Social Service job family (family average $66,500).

Similar-paying roles in Community and Social Service

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$70,500

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$66,500

Child, Family, and School Social Workers$66,000

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$74,000

Directors, Religious Activities and Education$64,500

Healthcare Social Worker$74,500

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$75,500

Health Education Specialist$76,000

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$61,500

Counselors, All Other$60,000

Careers related to Clergy

Directors, Religious Activities and Education$64,500

Child, Family, and School Social Workers$66,000

Social and Human Service Assistants$49,500

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$74,000

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$120,000

Marriage and Family Therapists$79,500

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Clergy make?

The average base salary for a Clergy in the United States is $69,000 per year, or about $33.17 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $50,000 and $79,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Community and Social Service roles?

The Community and Social Service job family averages $66,500 across 17 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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